Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want to sell Mutch but, as the former Birmingham City man only has one year left on his contract, would be unlikely to risk him leaving for free next summer.

QPR now appear to be in pole position to land one of Cardiff's best players, but there is also interest from at least one other London-based club.

Mutch joined the Bluebirds from Birmingham two years ago for a fee of around £2m, establishing himself as the linchpin of the Cardiff midfield after a slow start.

He played 37 times last season, scoring seven goals.

As well as linking back up with England defender Caulker, a move to Loftus Road would see Mutch join a squad including Chilean World Cup star Mauricio Isla, who is due to join from Juventus, and striker Loic Remy, whose proposed move to Liverpool fell down last weekend.

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